Mécanophysiologie des microcolonies bactériennes // Mechanophysiology of Bacterial Microcolonies

The role of physical cues in shaping the development of multicellular eukaryotic organisms is now firmly established. Even though it is now also appreciated that bacteria mostly live within dense multicellular communities called biofilms, the understanding of the role of physical cues within these communities is still in its infancy. This doctoral project will aim at studying the role of physical forces in the early biofilm formation of species of the Neisseria genus. Focusing on a pair of species, one pathogen and one commensal, the PhD candidate will combine molecular biology, genetics, biophysics and live microscopy to tackle the role of physical cues in the physiology of these members of the human microbiota. By unraveling the coupling between mechanics and bacterial physiology, the PhD applicant will be in position to propose new routes to control the spread of these bacteria and curb their resistance to antibiotics.
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The role of physical cues in shaping the development of multicellular eukaryotic organisms is now firmly established. Even though it is now also appreciated that bacteria mostly live within dense multicellular communities called biofilms, the understanding of the role of physical cues within these communities is still in its infancy. This doctoral project will aim at studying the role of physical forces in the early biofilm formation of species of the Neisseria genus. Focusing on a pair of species, one pathogen and one commensal, the PhD candidate will combine molecular biology, genetics, biophysics and live microscopy to tackle the role of physical cues in the physiology of these members of the human microbiota. By unraveling the coupling between mechanics and bacterial physiology, the PhD applicant will be in position to propose new routes to control the spread of these bacteria and curb their resistance to antibiotics.
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Début de la thèse : 01/10/2025

Public funding alone (i.e. government, region, European, international organization research grant)

Concours pour un contrat doctoral

Sorbonne Université SIM (Sciences, Ingénierie, Médecine)

515 Complexité du vivant

The ideal student will have a background in biology, physics or engineering with previous experience in microbiology, microscopy or experimental biophysics. But more importantly we are interested in students that are ready to embrace the challenge of this fully interdisciplinary project and delve fully into the role of mechanical cues in bacterial physiology.
The ideal student will have a background in biology, physics or engineering with previous experience in microbiology, microscopy or experimental biophysics. But more importantly we are interested in students that are ready to embrace the challenge of this fully interdisciplinary project and delve fully into the role of mechanical cues in bacterial physiology.